Mark Lentz – KSHSAA Retirement Announcement
Topeka, Kan. – KSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Mark Lentz announced his plans to retire July 1, 2026. He has served in this position since July 1, 2011. During his tenure, Mr. Lentz maintained administrative leadership for the activities of football, wrestling, track & field, and helped develop and serve in the role of coaching services administrator. Additionally, Mr. Lentz coordinated the annual school classification process and provided key support with general interpretations of KSHSAA rules for the member schools of the Association.
A native of Fort Scott, Kansas, Lentz participated in football, wrestling and track at Fort Scott High School, and upon graduation attended and played football at Fort Scott Community College, Baker University and Pittsburg State University, graduating from PSU in 1987 with a B.S. in Education. He continued his education by completing a masters degree in 1995 at Southwest Missouri State University and district level administrator certification in 2003 at Pittsburg State University.
Prior to his fifteen years of service with the KSHSAA, Mr. Lentz served twelve years as Assistant Principal and Activities Director of Paola High School in USD #368 Paola. Prior to his tenure at Paola, Lentz served three years as Principal of Jayhawk-Linn Jr/Sr High School in Mound City. Before beginning his career in administration, Lentz taught and served as head coach in football, wrestling and track and field, during a nine-year career at Reeds Spring and Seneca high schools in Missouri.
“As a teacher, coach, and administrator for the past thirty-nine years, Mr. Lentz has demonstrated steady, intentional, and engaged leadership,” noted KSHSAA Executive Director Bill Faflick. “His participation as a high school and collegiate athlete, coupled with his coaching and background in athletic administration, allowed great perspective and positive impact on his work at the Association. His efforts to support teaching and learning experiences helped provide countless students opportunities to be successful in life.”
During his tenure with the KSHSAA, Mr. Lentz provided timely leadership and support, never wavering from the Association’s mission. His leadership inspired and provided accountability for school administrators and coaches across Kansas. Mr. Lentz was instrumental in the adoption of championship girls wrestling in Kansas, as well as including the first ever adaptive events at the state track meet. Mr. Lentz was also active at the national level serving on multiple NFHS committees, including 15 years on the Football Rules Committee, and for the past two years, service on the NFHS Flag Football Rules Committee charged with writing the first ever rules book for flag football.
